Terrorism that Takes the Lives of Innocent Civilians is Never Justified

24th February 1999Washington, D.C.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director of the Kashmiri American Council, today harshly condemned the killings of innocent Hindus in Rajouri district in Kashmir. The history of Kashmir has been a history of communal harmony between Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, and other faiths. The February 22, 1999 terrorist atrocities are a sacrilege to Kashmir's religious ideal and communal unity.

The 51-year-old illegal occupation of Kashmir by 700,000 Indian military and paramilitary forces is an international issue that has been addressed by
United Nations Security Council and the international community that prescribe a self-determination to determine the future status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir's plight does not pivot on matters of religion, but on the ruthless suppression of the right to self-determination enshrined in international law and practice.

Dr. Fai urged a thorough an impartial inquiry into the terrorist incident and unforgiving punishment of the guilty. "Terrorism that takes the lives of
innocent civilians," Dr. Fai underscored, is never justified no matter what
the cause that allegedly provoked the crime. There is no such thing as good
terrorism. It is all bad."